HELENA, Mont. — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced that prosecutors charged a Powell County man with sexual assault in a case involving a high school student.
John Austin Micu, 42, was charged Wednesday, according to the attorney general’s office. The case centered on allegations involving a student and a member of the Powell County High School wrestling team.
At the time of the alleged offense, Micu worked as a captain with the Powell County Sheriff’s Office and as head wrestling coach at Powell County High School.
The attorney general’s office said the case was being handled by Assistant Attorney General Meghann Paddock.
Investigators said Helena Police received a report in March 2025 alleging sexual misconduct involving Micu.
During a conversation with another Powell County officer, Micu denied having a sexual relationship with the student, but investigators said he acknowledged the student stayed overnight in his basement when she was fighting with her mother. He also said he stayed in the basement with her because he was having “Marital issues.”
In April 2025, agents with the Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation interviewed Micu. The attorney general’s office said he admitted during that interview to having sexual intercourse with the student.
Micu resigned from Deer Lodge School District on March 7, 2025. He also resigned from the Powell County Sheriff’s Office in June.
The attorney general’s office said the Division of Criminal Investigation completed the investigation after initial investigative work by the Deer Lodge Police Department.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.